She's All That Ok For A Date

ANOTHER VIEW

February 12, 1999|By JUSTINE BARONE Nova High School

She's All That does not begin to compare to the truly classic teen romantic comedies of the 1980s. It does, however, fit right in with today's MTV generation. The movie is predictable, but with a competent cast and, at times, an amusing script.

Freddie Prinze Jr., son of the late comedic actor, plays Zack, his high school's resident heartthrob. Zack's steady girlfriend, Taylor, has just dumped him for a member of The Real World, Brock (Matthew Lillard). This leaves Zack without a prom date. A conniving friend challenges Zack to turn any girl in school into the prom queen. Zack accepts the bet and is left with the formidable task of wooing Laney, an artistic outcast (Rachael Leigh Cook).

Once this groundwork is laid, the movie follows a predictable pattern. Boy courts girl. Girl reluctantly agrees to look beyond boy's shallow, popular exterior. Girl falls for boy. Boy falls for girl. This plot is hardly an original one, but some movies have had enough quirky charm to pull it off. Unfortunately, She's All That is not one of those movies. It is entertaining at times, particularly Lillard's dance sequence and cameos by singer Usher and others. The actors did what they could with the uninspiring dialogue.

Teen-agers will fall in love with Prinze and Cook, who were both convincing as the young star-crossed lovers. Anna Paquin was inconspicuous but good as Zack's younger sister. The roles of Laney's brother and best friend were also portrayed well.

She's All That will, however, manage to entertain the teen-age audience, especially those who appreciate and enjoy the television shows currently winning over teen viewers.

While the movie did not showcase its actors as well as a better-scripted one might have, it will no doubt launch Prinze Jr. and Cook to stardom status. If approached with muted expectations, She's All That should not be too disappointing, especially as a date movie for teens.